Chapter 1 - The Nature and Process of Business Research 2
Chapter 2 - Business Research Strategies 9
Chapter 3 - Research designs 21
Chapter 4: Planning a Research Project and Developing Research Questions
(P. 81 - 86) 34
Chapter 6: Ethics in Business research 39
Chapter 8: The Nature of Quantitative Research 47
Chapter 9: Sampling in quantitative research 53
The importance of a representative sample 54
Chapter 14: Secondary Analysis and O cial Statistics 61
Chapter 15: Quantitative Data Analysis: Descriptive, Univariate, and Bivariate
Statistics 69
Chapter 16 - Quantitative Data Analysis: Hypothesis Testing and Inferential
Statistics 75
Chapter 17: The Nature of Qualitative Research 88
(Up to:Researcher-participant relationships”) 88
Chapter 18: Sampling in qualitative research (up to "Not just People" section)
92
Chapter 20: Interviewing in Qualitative Research 98
(excluding pages 440–448, resumes at Merits and Limitations) 98
Chapter 25: Qualitative Data Analysis 100
In-class quizzes 110
1
ffi
, Chapter 1 - The Nature and Process of Business
Research
• Phases of the research process:
1. Formulate research objectives
2. Choose research methods
3. Secure research participants
4. Collect, analyze and interpret data
5. Disseminate ndings
Why do you need to understand business research methods?
- Avoid common pitfalls by relatively inexperienced people in business research, such as failing
to consider the relationship between research questions and the choice of research methods.
- Ability to critically read previous research.
- Ability to recognize business issues and ability to contribute to business knowledge.
• Business Research: The academic study of topics through the posing of research questions
that are relevant to business, including management and organizations. Business research is
part of social sciences which includes sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics.
Related to the elds: marketing, HRM, strategy, organizational behavior, accounting and nance,
industrial relations and operational research. Making business research highly interdisciplinary.
• Business research may be motivated by developments and changes in organizations and
societies.
• Research is conducted when there is an aspect of business and management that is believed to
be inadequately understood.
Key considerations in business research methods
• Theoretical in uence: Theories in social science guide what is researched and how ndings
are interpreted.
• Role of theory:
• Deductive: Theory > hypotheses > tested with data.
• Inductive: Theory develops from the data during the research process.
• Epistemological stance: Views di er on how research should be conducted. Some advocate a
scienti c, hypothesis-testing approach, while others argue for approaches sensitive to the
complexity of human and organizational behavior.
• Ontological stance: Assumptions about social reality matter; some see it as external and xed,
beyond actors’ control.
• Practical purpose: Business research seeks to provide insights that improve organizations and
positively a ect employees.
Relevance to practice
• Evidence-based management: A systematic use of the best available evidence to improve
management practice. It aims to bridge the research–practice gap, where business research
often lacks practical relevance.
• 4 resources of information contribute to evidence-based management:
1. Practitioner expertise and judgement;
2. Evidence from the local context
3. Critical evaluation of available research;
4. Perspectives of those a ected by a decision
• Evidence-based management is useful if ndings can be translated into practice and inform
decision-making systematically.
• Modes of knowledge production
- Mode 1: Traditional university-driven, discipline-speci c, linear, focused on theoretical
knowledge. Application comes later via dissemination to academics and practitioners.
2
fi ff fi flfi ff ff fi fi fi fi fi
, - Mode 2: Context-driven, transdisciplinary, collaborative, non-linear. Knowledge is co-created
by academics, practitioners, and policy-makers, and is directly relevant to practice. Business
research aligns more closely with Mode 2.
• Grand challenges: De ned as large-scale global problems (e.g., sustainability, inequality)
requiring coordinated, interdisciplinary solutions. Addressing them is both a scienti c and
managerial/organizational issue, demanding collaboration across social and natural sciences.
1.3 Self-test
1. What is distinctive about 'Mode 1' knowledge?
A. The knowledge originates from the newspapers (incorrect)
B. The knowledge originates from what might interest students (incorrect)
C. The knowledge is driven by the academic agenda.
D. The knowledge is driven by the funding sources (incorrect)
Within this traditional, university-based model, knowledge production is driven primarily by an
academic agenda. Discoveries tend to build upon existing knowledge in a linear fashion. The
model makes a distinction between theoretically pure knowledge and applied knowledge, the
latter being where theoretical insights are translated into practice. Only limited emphasis is placed
on the dissemination of knowledge, because the academic community is the most important
audience or consumer of knowledge. Section reference: Relevance to practice
2. What is distinctive about "Mode 2" knowledge production?
A. It proceeds in a linear fashion building on existing knowledge (incorrect)
B. It is driven primarily by an academic agenda (incorrect)
C. It involves academics, policy makers and practitioners in problem solving
D. It places limited emphasis on the practical dissemination of knowledge (incorrect)
'Mode 2' knowledge production is seen as being more suited to management and business
research because it uses skills and experiences of groups outside of academic institutions to
achieve practical advantage. Far from limiting emphasis on practical dissemination of knowledge,
it actively encourages application to management problems. Section reference: Relevance to
practice.
3. What sources of information contribute to evidence-based management?
A. Practitioner expertise and judgment; evidence from the local context; critical evaluation
of the best available research evidence; perspectives of those who may be a ected by a
particular decision (Briner et al., 2009: 19)
B. Websites, business newspapers and feedback from management (incorrect)
C. Practitioner expertise and judgment; websites, business newspapers and feedback from
customers (incorrect)
D. This book and the library (incorrect)
There are four sources of information that contribute to evidence-based management: practitioner
expertise and judgment; evidence from the local context; critical evaluation of the best available
research evidence; perspectives of those who may be a ected by a particular decision (Briner et
al. 2009: 19).Sources from business websites, newspapers, etc. alone are not reliable sources of
evidence-based management. Section reference: Introduction
3
fi ff fffi
, The process of business research
• Main elements of a research project:
1. Literature review: Establishes what is known, key concepts, methods used,
controversies, key contributors, and gaps.
Linking research questions, ndings, and discussion to existing literature will increase the
credibility of your research and the contribution to knowledge. Must be critical and
integrated into the overall narrative to show contribution.
2. Concepts and theories: Organize research interests and shape interpretation.
- Deductive research: Theory → hypotheses → data testing.
- Inductive research: Data → theory development
3. Research questions
• The value of a research question is that it can: Guide literature search, design, data
collection, analysis, and writing.
• Types of research question:
- Predicting an outcome: does y happen under circumstances a and b?
- Explaining causes and consequences of a phenomenon: is y a ected by x or is y a
consequence of x?
- Evaluating a phenomenon: does y exhibit the bene ts that it is claimed to have?
- Describing a phenomenon: what is y like or what forms does y assume
- Developing good practice: how can we improve y?
- Empowerment: how can we enhance the lives of those we research? White (2009) is
critical of Denscombe’s last category, arguing that an emphasis on political motives of
this kind can impede the conduct of good quality research. To some extent, this
di erence of opinion can be attributed to di erences in viewpoint about the purposes of
research. White proposes an alternative.
- Comparison: do a and b di er in respect of x?
There are many ways that research questions can be categorized, but these seven types
provide an indication of the possibilities as well as drawing attention to a controversy
about the wider goals of research.
4. Sampling
- Representative samples: A sample that re ects the population accurately, so that it is a
microcosm of the population. It is usually based on constructing a sample that can
represent the wider population.
- Sample: The segment of the population that is selected for research. It is a subset of the
population. The method of selection may be based on probability sampling or non-
probability sampling.
5. Data collection
- Key point of any research project
- Structured methods: Pre-de ned objectives and design
- Unstructured methods: Open-ended, inductive, allowing concepts to emerge from data
6. Data Analysis
- Involves checking, reducing, and interpreting data. Can be primary (by original
researcher) or secondary (by others, using existing datasets).
7. Writing up
1. Introduction
The research area and its signi cance are outlined. The research questions will also
probably be introduced.
2. Literature review
What is already known about the research area is examined critically.
3. Research methods
The research methods (sampling, methods of data collection, methods of data
analysis) are presented and justi ed.
4. Results
The ndings are presented.
5. Discussion
The ndings are discussed in relation to the literature and the research questions
4
ff fi
fffi fi fi fl ff fi ff
Chapter 2 - Business Research Strategies 9
Chapter 3 - Research designs 21
Chapter 4: Planning a Research Project and Developing Research Questions
(P. 81 - 86) 34
Chapter 6: Ethics in Business research 39
Chapter 8: The Nature of Quantitative Research 47
Chapter 9: Sampling in quantitative research 53
The importance of a representative sample 54
Chapter 14: Secondary Analysis and O cial Statistics 61
Chapter 15: Quantitative Data Analysis: Descriptive, Univariate, and Bivariate
Statistics 69
Chapter 16 - Quantitative Data Analysis: Hypothesis Testing and Inferential
Statistics 75
Chapter 17: The Nature of Qualitative Research 88
(Up to:Researcher-participant relationships”) 88
Chapter 18: Sampling in qualitative research (up to "Not just People" section)
92
Chapter 20: Interviewing in Qualitative Research 98
(excluding pages 440–448, resumes at Merits and Limitations) 98
Chapter 25: Qualitative Data Analysis 100
In-class quizzes 110
1
ffi
, Chapter 1 - The Nature and Process of Business
Research
• Phases of the research process:
1. Formulate research objectives
2. Choose research methods
3. Secure research participants
4. Collect, analyze and interpret data
5. Disseminate ndings
Why do you need to understand business research methods?
- Avoid common pitfalls by relatively inexperienced people in business research, such as failing
to consider the relationship between research questions and the choice of research methods.
- Ability to critically read previous research.
- Ability to recognize business issues and ability to contribute to business knowledge.
• Business Research: The academic study of topics through the posing of research questions
that are relevant to business, including management and organizations. Business research is
part of social sciences which includes sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics.
Related to the elds: marketing, HRM, strategy, organizational behavior, accounting and nance,
industrial relations and operational research. Making business research highly interdisciplinary.
• Business research may be motivated by developments and changes in organizations and
societies.
• Research is conducted when there is an aspect of business and management that is believed to
be inadequately understood.
Key considerations in business research methods
• Theoretical in uence: Theories in social science guide what is researched and how ndings
are interpreted.
• Role of theory:
• Deductive: Theory > hypotheses > tested with data.
• Inductive: Theory develops from the data during the research process.
• Epistemological stance: Views di er on how research should be conducted. Some advocate a
scienti c, hypothesis-testing approach, while others argue for approaches sensitive to the
complexity of human and organizational behavior.
• Ontological stance: Assumptions about social reality matter; some see it as external and xed,
beyond actors’ control.
• Practical purpose: Business research seeks to provide insights that improve organizations and
positively a ect employees.
Relevance to practice
• Evidence-based management: A systematic use of the best available evidence to improve
management practice. It aims to bridge the research–practice gap, where business research
often lacks practical relevance.
• 4 resources of information contribute to evidence-based management:
1. Practitioner expertise and judgement;
2. Evidence from the local context
3. Critical evaluation of available research;
4. Perspectives of those a ected by a decision
• Evidence-based management is useful if ndings can be translated into practice and inform
decision-making systematically.
• Modes of knowledge production
- Mode 1: Traditional university-driven, discipline-speci c, linear, focused on theoretical
knowledge. Application comes later via dissemination to academics and practitioners.
2
fi ff fi flfi ff ff fi fi fi fi fi
, - Mode 2: Context-driven, transdisciplinary, collaborative, non-linear. Knowledge is co-created
by academics, practitioners, and policy-makers, and is directly relevant to practice. Business
research aligns more closely with Mode 2.
• Grand challenges: De ned as large-scale global problems (e.g., sustainability, inequality)
requiring coordinated, interdisciplinary solutions. Addressing them is both a scienti c and
managerial/organizational issue, demanding collaboration across social and natural sciences.
1.3 Self-test
1. What is distinctive about 'Mode 1' knowledge?
A. The knowledge originates from the newspapers (incorrect)
B. The knowledge originates from what might interest students (incorrect)
C. The knowledge is driven by the academic agenda.
D. The knowledge is driven by the funding sources (incorrect)
Within this traditional, university-based model, knowledge production is driven primarily by an
academic agenda. Discoveries tend to build upon existing knowledge in a linear fashion. The
model makes a distinction between theoretically pure knowledge and applied knowledge, the
latter being where theoretical insights are translated into practice. Only limited emphasis is placed
on the dissemination of knowledge, because the academic community is the most important
audience or consumer of knowledge. Section reference: Relevance to practice
2. What is distinctive about "Mode 2" knowledge production?
A. It proceeds in a linear fashion building on existing knowledge (incorrect)
B. It is driven primarily by an academic agenda (incorrect)
C. It involves academics, policy makers and practitioners in problem solving
D. It places limited emphasis on the practical dissemination of knowledge (incorrect)
'Mode 2' knowledge production is seen as being more suited to management and business
research because it uses skills and experiences of groups outside of academic institutions to
achieve practical advantage. Far from limiting emphasis on practical dissemination of knowledge,
it actively encourages application to management problems. Section reference: Relevance to
practice.
3. What sources of information contribute to evidence-based management?
A. Practitioner expertise and judgment; evidence from the local context; critical evaluation
of the best available research evidence; perspectives of those who may be a ected by a
particular decision (Briner et al., 2009: 19)
B. Websites, business newspapers and feedback from management (incorrect)
C. Practitioner expertise and judgment; websites, business newspapers and feedback from
customers (incorrect)
D. This book and the library (incorrect)
There are four sources of information that contribute to evidence-based management: practitioner
expertise and judgment; evidence from the local context; critical evaluation of the best available
research evidence; perspectives of those who may be a ected by a particular decision (Briner et
al. 2009: 19).Sources from business websites, newspapers, etc. alone are not reliable sources of
evidence-based management. Section reference: Introduction
3
fi ff fffi
, The process of business research
• Main elements of a research project:
1. Literature review: Establishes what is known, key concepts, methods used,
controversies, key contributors, and gaps.
Linking research questions, ndings, and discussion to existing literature will increase the
credibility of your research and the contribution to knowledge. Must be critical and
integrated into the overall narrative to show contribution.
2. Concepts and theories: Organize research interests and shape interpretation.
- Deductive research: Theory → hypotheses → data testing.
- Inductive research: Data → theory development
3. Research questions
• The value of a research question is that it can: Guide literature search, design, data
collection, analysis, and writing.
• Types of research question:
- Predicting an outcome: does y happen under circumstances a and b?
- Explaining causes and consequences of a phenomenon: is y a ected by x or is y a
consequence of x?
- Evaluating a phenomenon: does y exhibit the bene ts that it is claimed to have?
- Describing a phenomenon: what is y like or what forms does y assume
- Developing good practice: how can we improve y?
- Empowerment: how can we enhance the lives of those we research? White (2009) is
critical of Denscombe’s last category, arguing that an emphasis on political motives of
this kind can impede the conduct of good quality research. To some extent, this
di erence of opinion can be attributed to di erences in viewpoint about the purposes of
research. White proposes an alternative.
- Comparison: do a and b di er in respect of x?
There are many ways that research questions can be categorized, but these seven types
provide an indication of the possibilities as well as drawing attention to a controversy
about the wider goals of research.
4. Sampling
- Representative samples: A sample that re ects the population accurately, so that it is a
microcosm of the population. It is usually based on constructing a sample that can
represent the wider population.
- Sample: The segment of the population that is selected for research. It is a subset of the
population. The method of selection may be based on probability sampling or non-
probability sampling.
5. Data collection
- Key point of any research project
- Structured methods: Pre-de ned objectives and design
- Unstructured methods: Open-ended, inductive, allowing concepts to emerge from data
6. Data Analysis
- Involves checking, reducing, and interpreting data. Can be primary (by original
researcher) or secondary (by others, using existing datasets).
7. Writing up
1. Introduction
The research area and its signi cance are outlined. The research questions will also
probably be introduced.
2. Literature review
What is already known about the research area is examined critically.
3. Research methods
The research methods (sampling, methods of data collection, methods of data
analysis) are presented and justi ed.
4. Results
The ndings are presented.
5. Discussion
The ndings are discussed in relation to the literature and the research questions
4
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